Invitation Letters

Plus tips and step-by-step instructions, choice sentences and phrases

Whether you're planning a formal or informal occasion, we'll help you find the words to make an excellent impression on your guests. Choose from 211 warm and friendly invitation letters to get their attention.

How to extend an invitation to a personal social event

Tips: The tone of an invitation is always positive, in anticipation of a pleasurable occasion. Picture your guests smiling when they read your letter of invitation. Clever phrasing, poetry or a themed approach may be appropriate for an informal occasion, but you should express the details clearly.

1. Extend the invitation, naming the event and including the date, time, and place. If the event has a special purpose, such as honoring someone or celebrating an anniversary, state this.

2. Indicate if a gift is not expected if the event is a retirement, an anniversary, or a reception. If a gift is welcome, it is usually best to say nothing, except in the case of bridal or baby showers.

3. Indicate the appropriate dress, if there is any reason for question.

4. Express anticipation

5. Ask for a response by a specific date.

6. Be sure include:

• The name of the person sponsoring the event (who is the host/hostess?)

• Exactly who is invited (can someone bring a guest, spouse, child?)

• What type of social event is being held

• The date, address, and time of the event

• Directions or a simple map if the location may be difficult to find

• What type of dress is appropriate or preferred

• The phone number and deadline to reply; precede these facts with “RSVP” (French abbreviation for “please reply”).

7. Try to send your invitation letter two weeks or more in advance.

Need the right words for your invitation letter?
	Say it right with professional invitation letters. Write with: Must-know tips Helpful writing steps 211 letters that writers agree work the best Choice sentences and phrases for each step NEW! Get 4,001 Business, Sales & Personal Letters: The simple way to write letters. Learn more.

Invitation Letter Topics

Get a variety of invitation letters for each of these topics:

Extend an invitation

• Extend a formal invitation

• Extend an invitation for a job interview

• Extend an invitation to a business social event

• Extend an invitation to a personal social event

• Extend an invitation to attend a trade show, seminar, or conference

• Extend an invitation to join an organization

• Extend an invitation to open an account

• Extend an invitation to participate in or attend a fundraising event

• Extend an invitation to speak or perform

• Extend invitations to seasonal parties: Halloween, St. Patrick's Day, Valentine's Day, etc. (business and personal)

• Extend invitations to winter holiday parties (business and personal)

• Invite a customer to request a sample product or more information

• Invite a prospective customer to a sales appointment, presentation, or demonstration

Related Invitation Topics

• Accept a formal invitation to a social event

• Accept a request to serve in an honorary position

• Accept an informal invitation to a social event

• Accept an invitation to a business appointment

• Accept an invitation to an event

• Accept an invitation to join an organization

• Accept an invitation to speak or perform

• Announce a broken engagement

• Announce a business anniversary

• Announce a class reunion

• Announce a job-related party or retreat

• Announce a routine meeting

• Announce a special meeting

• Announce an engagement in a personal letter

• Announce an engagement with an invitation

• Announce the graduation of a son or daughter

• Cancel a wedding

• Cancel or postpone an invitation

• Confirm a guest's attendance at a conference or symposium (organizer's letter)

• Confirm a speaker's or special guest's attendance

• Confirm your own attendance as a speaker or special guest

• Decline an invitation to an event

• Decline an invitation to join an organization

• Decline an invitation to speak or perform